Author's Note: Special thanks to dogman15 for a surprisingly informative review which helped me edit this short story for the better. Made a few changes and modified some of the dialogue (removed the "AAAAH!" line; I swear I have no recollection of typing it).

TOBIAS

It was December 23rd. Evening was closing. The day before Christmas Eve. Even after all these years I still find it hard to endure. I've always been a loner at heart; I've made my peace with it. But it was hard to let go of old ties, and humans are social creatures. For the past few years I've stayed away from my usual place in the forest when it got around to this time. I didn't want my friends to come and try to cheer me up tentatively, knowing they couldn't very well invite a hawk over for Christmas dinner. They meant well, I know that. It was enough.

This year, though, things were a little different. I had the morphing ability again. They might ask me to come to one of their dinners. The thing is, I'm not entirely sure they actually want me there. Do they cherish me? Of course. I cherish them. They'd want me to be happy on Christmas Eve. But there's always room in the dinner scene for me to slip up and make things awkward. I've grown used to being a hawk in solitary; I was worried that I'd forgotten to do the little things in public to avoid cause for concern. Blinking regularly and facial expressions, for one thing.

That's all assuming I'm even asked to join dinner. It would be pretty embarrassing of me to start worrying about those details without even being invited first.

I was perched on a dead tree looking down at Ax, who was sifting snow through his hands. Sometimes he'd roll snowballs and throw them high in the air to whip through them with his blade.

He was alone, too. He had more right to feel sorry for himself than I do. I felt slightly ashamed for getting worked up about social etiquette. I may have been isolated from humans, but definitely not to the same extent as Ax was from his own people. I flew away, planning to keep my mind occupied with hunting. Just 2 more days to endure and Christmas will be over again. I flapped my wings a little harder. No thermals at this time, so I didn't stay up as high. That's why I didn't initially see the bald eagle flying at a much higher distance over me.

((Hey, Tobias. Glad I found you so quickly.)) Rachel. My heart started beating a little faster. Calm down, I told myself. Maybe she's here because there's a problem.

((Hey, Rachel. Is something wrong?)) I flew low to land on a particularly thick branch. A few seconds later she landed neatly beside me. Eagle and hawk, perched side by side. Odd couple. But so was human and bird.

((Ouch. Is that the only reason you think I'd come to hang with you?)) she asked playfully. She didn't wait for an answer. ((I was going to ask tomorrow, but I was worried that you might've flown away like you did last year. Without a word. So I had to catch you earlier.)) So she didn't stop trying to find me after the first Christmas of me as a nohlit. That first time, she had suggested us doing something similar to what she did for me on my birthday. A little private get-together in her room. It was painful enough for my birthday, but I'm sure it would've been worse for Christmas. Well, maybe not painful. Bittersweet. It was kind of her... really kind. And it was as bittersweet for her too. I couldn't put her through that again. Hence why I flew off in the following year before the morning of Christmas Eve.

((Ask me... what?)) I felt a strange sinking sensation in my stomach as I asked. Or was it a rising feeling?

((Well... maybe 'asking' isn't the right word, seeing as that would imply you have a choice. You're gonna join me for Christmas dinner. Tomorrow night.))

((Rachel, I don't -))

((Tobias, if I don't see you tommorow - if you fly out on me again, I swear I'll find you and tear out your tail feathers. Then I'll drag you back here. So you can make this easy or hard. Your choice.))

I didn't say anything. When I thought of the possibility of being asked to join dinner, I had expected myself to panic about how to carry myself around the family, keep my mannerisms natural. But all I felt was relief. Relief that she was so persistent. Relief that she left no room to be awkward about spending the evening with her family. Relief that she was mine.

((Yeah, well... You don't really leave me much of a choice, Rachel. Although my answer would've been the same even if you didn't threaten my well-being)) I joked. Then I added, ((I'll be there. What time?))

She didn't respond for a few seconds. Her eagle expression was inscrutable but I would assume that she was taken back. She must've expected me to resist more strongly. Why did I have to make things so hard for her in the past? Well, not anymore. I'll do right by her this time. I'll make my first proper Christmas dinner count. ((Oh, well, dinner starts at 8, but come by at 7:30. You can just de-morph and morph again in the bathroom once you reach your limit. You can do it as many times as needed.)) How long did she expect me to stay there? Not that I was complaining. Then, more uncertainly, she asked, ((You will come, won't you? You aren't just agreeing so I'll lay off you, right?))

((I won't leave you hanging. I promise. I'm actually looking forward to it.))

The eagle straightened a little. ((Really? Well, yeah, so am I, actually! Mom's not exactly the best cook, and it's not the most fun with just family so you'll be a welcome addition. They'll take to you right away, I'm sure. No worries. It'll be a nice dinner.))

I laughed. Was she actually flustered? ((7:30 tomorrow. Got it. I'll borrow some clothes from Jake before I come. You should get going. I'll see you tomorrow.))

((You better,)) she said softly.

((Or else?)) I quipped.

((Exactly. Or else.)) I laughed again as she took off.